Halftone

The Halftone fill technique transforms your artwork by arranging dots or geometric shapes in a specific pattern. It uses the tonal values of your original image to vary the density and size of the dots, creating an engaging effect that mimics shading and gradients.

Grid-Based Halftone

In a grid-based halftone, dots are arranged in a fixed grid. Adjust the density and shape of these dots to fine-tune the shading and texture in your printed artwork.

Randomised Halftone

With the randomised halftone, dot placement is guided by the tonal values of your image, offering a more organic and nuanced representation of shading.

Dot Shapes

Halftone fills let you use a variety of dot shapes—from standard circles to custom SVG imports. Both the distribution and shape of the dots can be adjusted dynamically based on the image tone for precise shading and texture.

Colors

Vector dots in a halftone fill can be either monochromatic or use colors from the original image, providing a detailed and vibrant representation.

Fill Parameters

Pattern Size (units): Sets the spacing between dots. Lower values create a denser fill, while higher values increase the space.

Angle (°): Adjusts the rotation of the dot grid.

Render Even/Odd Dots: Displays dots on both even and odd grid positions for a fuller pattern.

Render Only Odd/Even Dots: Restricts dot placement to either only odd or even grid positions, useful when applying layered fills.

Random Dot Distribution: Activates a tone-based random placement of dots instead of a fixed grid.

Contrast: This parameter controls the contrast of the fill.

Morphing: When active and using compatible dot shapes, this option creates smooth transitions between shapes based on tone. If disabled, each dot remains unchanged.

Dot Rotation (°): Sets the rotation for individual dots within the pattern.

Dot Randomization (%): Introduces subtle variations to point shapes, creating a more natural and less mechanical appearance.

Add/Remove Dot Shape: Use these controls to manage the dot shapes in your fill list.

By adjusting these parameters in Vexy Lines, you can precisely control your Halftone fill effect. This approach is ideal for replicating continuous-tone images using limited ink colors while providing customizable shading and texture.

Add and Customize a Halftone Fill

To add a Halftone fill to your design, refer to our Add a Fill guide. After opening the menu, select "Halftone" as your fill type.

Pattern Size

1. Navigate to the Pattern Size option.
2. Use the slider or input a numerical value to adjust the spacing between the dots.
3. A lower value reduces the space between dots, increasing detail.

size: 0.3	size: 0.5	size: 1

Angle

1. Go to the Angle option.
2. Use the slider or manually enter a value to adjust the rotation of the dot grid.

angle: 0	angle: 15	angle: 45

Render Even/Odd Dots

1. In the HALFTONE FILL tab, locate the controls for Even & Odd Dots.
2. Toggle these options to either display dots on both even and odd nodes or restrict them to one set.
3. This setting is useful for creating layered fill effects with different dot shapes.

even & odd	odd	even

Random Dot Distribution

1. Locate the "Distribute Dots Randomly" option.
2. Toggle it on to enable tone-based random dot placement or off to use a fixed grid.

random mode: off	random mode: on

Morphing

1. In the HALFTONE FILL tab, find the Morphing option.
2. Toggle it on to enable smooth transitions between compatible dot shapes based on tone. If disabled, each dot remains unchanged.

morphing: on	morphing: off

Dot Rotation

1. Locate the Dot Rotation option.
2. Toggle the button to enable dot rotation.
3. Once enabled, additional controls for adjusting the rotation angle will appear.
4. Use the slider or enter a specific value to set the desired rotation angle.

5. Next, choose the appropriate rotation mode. The available options determine how the dot shapes rotate:
   

   • In Place - Dots have a fixed rotation.
   • Follow Color – Dot rotation varies based on the image's color information.
   • Follow Step – Dot rotation increments follow a fixed step value.

6. The dot shapes in your fill will now rotate according to the settings you've specified.

rotation: off	follow color	follow step

Dot Randomisation

This feature adds slight variations to point shapes, reducing uniformity and giving the artwork a more natural, hand-drawn feel. It helps avoid a mechanical look while preserving the overall structure.

0%	33%	100%

Contrast

Controls the contrast of the fill, adjusting the difference between light and dark areas. Higher contrast creates a sharper look, while lower contrast results in a softer appearance.

0%	50%

Add/Remove/Edit Dot Shapes

1. Locate the "+" and "-" buttons in the HALFTONE FILL tab. Use these buttons to add or remove dot shapes from the list.

2. Select a predefined dot shape or choose Custom to upload your own SVG file.

3. Each dot shape you add corresponds to a specific tonal range in the image.

4. For custom shapes, ensure your SVG file contains a simple, closed line or curve.

5. To adjust the tonal representation, rearrange the order of the dot shapes by dragging them within the list.

square	square + circle	square + circle + star

By adjusting these parameters you have precise control over your Halftone fill effect. This method is particularly useful for replicating continuous-tone images using limited ink colors while customizing shading and texture.

Stroke Properties

Other properties applicable to this fill include:

• COLOR
• IMAGE THRESHOLD
• STROKE THICKNESS
• OVERLAP CONTROL

Link to Example

You can use the example file for this article UM3-Fills-Halftone.lines to practice adjusting Halftone fill parameters.